Israel confirms deaths of four more hostages in Gaza Leaks quoted by Israeli media on Monday morning suggested that Benjamin Netanyahu has told parliamentary colleagues that Israel would be able to keep its options open. That option to resume fighting until Hamas is eliminated is, some believe, the least Mr Netanyahu's far right coalition partners will demand. Without their support, he faces the prospect of early elections and the continuation of a corruption trial. Mr Netanyahu needs to keep his long term options open to stand a chance of winning their support for any initial hostage deal. Hamas leaders, on the other hand, are likely to want permanent ceasefire guarantees up front. Previous deals have collapsed into this chasm. Bridging it now will depend on how much room for manoeuvre Mr Netanyahu has with his hard right government allies to find alternatives to the elimination of Hamas, and how far Hamas leaders are prepared to consider them.